Inhaled beta2-agonists for treating non-specific chronic cough in children

The pathophysiology of so called 'cough variant asthma' has not received a great deal of research interest and opinion lies divided as to whether it is really asthma or not. The proponents of cough variant asthma suggest a therapeutic trial of medications usually used to treat asthma

To determine the effectiveness of inhaled ss2 agonists in non-specific chronic cough in children over the age of 2 years.

The Cochrane Airways Group database (including MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCRT) were searched. Additional searching included hand searching of medical journals through the Cochrane Collaboration, references, references of references listed in primary sources and personal communication with authors. In addition "Grey literature" including theses, internal reports, non-peer reviewed journals were sought.

All randomised (randomised and quasi-randomised) controlled clinical trials in which inhaled ss2 agonists were given for chronic cough in children over 2 years of age were included. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion and methodological quality.

Data for trials of salbutamol versus placebo were extracted by both reviewers and entered into the Cochrane Collaboration software program Review Manager, version 4.2

In children presenting with isolated chronic cough there was no significant difference between salbutamol treated group and placebo group.

Salbutamol was no different from placebo in reducing the frequency of cough measured objectively or scored subjectively.